The meeting of trade ministers from over two dozen countries, hosted by Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Pangestu, will be held in conjunction with the Thirteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bali December 3-14.

“Trade can be a significant tool in promoting economic
growth and sustainable development, including strategies to deal with climate
change,” said Ambassador Schwab. “I look forward to discussing with my
colleagues concrete ways in which trade ministers can contribute to and inform
climate strategies, particularly related to lowering barriers to trade in
environmental goods and services in the WTO Doha Round
negotiations.”

The Government of Indonesia issued invitations to the
trade and climate dialogue in September. Trade ministers and other senior
trade officials are expected to discuss potential linkages between trade and
climate change, contributions trade policies can make to mitigate climate change
and ways to ensure that trade and climate policies are mutually
supportive.

Background

Senior trade officials from more than two dozen countries
are expected to attend the trade and climate change dialogue, including trade
ministers from Argentina,
Brazil, China, India, Japan, New
Zealand and the Republic of Korea. Representatives from the
UNFCCC, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World
Trade Organization (WTO), environmental non-governmental organizations and
academic institutions have also been invited.